VANCOUVER ISLAND

Explore this incredible corner of the continent where the ocean meets the rainforest

JUNE 2027

Vancouver Island is one of North America's most diverse photography destinations, offering an extraordinary combination of rugged coastlines, ancient rainforests, cascading waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and some of the most dramatic seascapes found anywhere on the Pacific Coast. This small-group workshop has been carefully designed to showcase the island's most photogenic regions. Over the course of the journey, we'll explore wild stretches of coastline, hidden waterfalls, old-growth forests, iconic Pacific Rim beaches, and remote wildlife habitats while helping participants improve their technical and creative photography skills.

From the sandstone formations and tide pools of the southwest coast to the famous beaches of Tofino and Ucluelet, photographers will experience an incredible variety of subjects and conditions. Along the way we'll visit renowned locations such as Botanical Beach, Sombrio Beach, Long Beach, Chesterman Beach, Amphitrite Point, and several lesser-known hidden gems that offer outstanding photographic opportunities away from the crowds. A highlight of the workshop is an included wildlife photography excursion along Vancouver Island's spectacular west coast, offering opportunities to photograph whales, black bears, bald eagles, sea lions, seabirds, and other marine wildlife in their natural environment.

Whether your passion is landscapes, seascapes, wildlife, drone photography, long exposures, or storytelling through photography, this workshop offers an immersive experience in one of Canada's most spectacular natural environments.

On this XXXX day Photography Workshop all transportation and lodging (single occupancy) will be included. All throughout you will be provided with expert instruction on how best to capture the scene. The goal of the workshop is to give you the ability to explore, learn, and fine tune those photography skills both in the field as well in post processing development to bring your images to life. Helping clients create images they are excited about is priority number one on all of our workshops (along with having a good time).

INSTRUCTORS: CHRIS BYRNE & SHANE KALYN             

GROUP SIZE: 8 - 10 PARTICIPANTS

COST: $6950 USD

INCLUDED: All Transportation and Lodging (Single Person Occupancy Room)

NOT INCLUDED: Airfare, snacks, meals, alcohol, tips & gratuities

DEPOSIT: A 50% deposit is required to secure a spot, with the final balance due 90 days prior to the workshop.

ITINERARY

Our journey begins in historic Victoria, British Columbia on June XXXXX, where participants will meet the instructors, settle into the workshop, and enjoy an introductory evening together. Depending on conditions and participant interest, there may be opportunities for optional evening photography within the city. From there, we venture into Vancouver Island's wild southwest coast, a region known for its rugged shorelines, world-class tidepools, ancient forests, dramatic waterfalls, and constantly changing Pacific weather. This area provides endless opportunities for creative landscape photography, from intimate forest scenes to expansive coastal vistas shaped by centuries of wind and surf.

As we make our way north through the island's interior and eastern regions, we'll photograph abundant waterfalls, rivers, old-growth forests, and scenic landscapes that showcase the incredible diversity of Vancouver Island's ecosystems. The second half of the workshop focuses on the world-famous Pacific Rim region surrounding Tofino and Ucluelet. Here, endless sweeping beaches, crashing surf, rugged rocky shorelines, ancient rainforest trails, and dynamic coastal weather combine to create some of Canada's finest landscape photography opportunities.

This region is also one of British Columbia's premier wildlife photography destinations. Included in the workshop is a dedicated wildlife boat excursion, giving participants the opportunity to photograph a variety of marine wildlife which may include whales, black bears, bald eagles, sea lions, seabirds, and other marine wildlife along the rugged Pacific coastline. Combined with spectacular coastal landscapes, this wildlife experience creates a unique opportunity to build a highly diverse portfolio within a single destination.

During our time in the Pacific Rim, we will focus on maximizing photographic opportunities based on conditions, tides, wildlife activity, and weather. Sunrise and sunset sessions along the coast are complemented by rainforest photography, drone opportunities, image reviews, and wildlife-focused outings throughout the region.

The workshop concludes after our final morning session on June XXXXX HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE BACK OR DO THEY FLY OUT OF SOMEWHERE ELSE?

Throughout the workshop, sunrise and sunset sessions will be prioritized whenever conditions allow, while daytime hours may be spent exploring forests, waterfalls, wildlife locations, processing images, or scouting future compositions. As with all Destination Earth Photo Tours workshops, flexibility is key. Weather, tides, wildlife activity, and light conditions will guide our daily decisions to ensure we maximize photographic opportunities.

Throughout the workshop, we stay in carefully selected, comfortable hotels and coastal lodges that offer a relaxed and welcoming base after full days in the field. These quality accommodations provide a balance of comfort and convenience, giving participants a chance to unwind, rest, and review images in a premium setting.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

WRITE THIS OUT XXXXXXX A photography workshop in the picturesque Provence France with never-ending fields of purple lavender preparing for the harvest. Nowhere else on earth is there a concentration like this of gorgeous and colorful farmlands. Needless to say the scenery is striking and made for landscape photography. Set among charming towns and villages the region is rich in beauty, food and culture and we will be taking it all in!

As stated previously there will be early mornings and late evenings but the days are structured to not wear anyone out and get the most enjoyment of the surroundings and scenery. We will provide tips in the field to capture images correctly "in camera" with the goal being that part becomes second nature and students can then focus on the creative aspects of landscape and nature photography. Post processing instruction will run the gamut of importing and organizing files into Lightroom to processing images in Lightroom and Photoshop and finally prepping images for the internet or for print. Our skilled professional photography guides are an open book and willing to share any tips or tricks they have picked up along the way to help you create a portfolio of images that you will be proud of.

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

CHRIS BYRNE

Hello there! I’m Chris and I spent way too many years aimlessly wandering the earth and working for the man before finding my true passion in nature and landscape photography. My love of nature started very early in life as I would study the photographs in my dad’s huge collection of National Geographics, and also spend as much time as I could out exploring in the woods with my younger brother. Fast forward many years and after getting a finance degree in college I went to work in the stock market for over fifteen years (and didn’t get rich). During my time, I saw first hand two of the most devastating financial crises in our country’s history, and after the second go around I completely lost interest in my profession and desperately needed something more. I found myself in a place in life without any inspiration or excitement for what I was doing.

Then on a trip to Glacier, Montana I rediscovered my love of nature. However, the photographs I was trying to get just didn’t do the place any justice. It was then that I decided to get serious about photography and quickly poured all of myself into the craft, learning as much as possible as quickly as I could. I was a super sponge and had a new passion for life! As soon as I became proficient in my skills, I wanted to share my knowledge and began teaching others.

Now I lead workshops to some of the best places on the globe and have a gallery in Portland, Oregon where I call my home. I am proud to be able to inspire others and spend as much time as I possibly can with each person in helping them connect with nature while teaching the techniques to capture the images that they want to create. Seeing people make breakthroughs in their art is something that I cherish. I truly believe that nature is good for the soul. The more you explore, the more you will be inspired. www.chrisbyrnephotography.com

SHANE KALYN

It all started with an old Nikon camera. A young Shane Kalyn picked up his father’s manual camera, and an interest bloomed. He shot on film, on slides. Then, he went to university, where he studied fish and wildlife management, and started traveling — and his world exploded. “From leopards and lions in Africa to Arctic foxes and puffins in Iceland to giant tortoises in Seychelles, I have been so fortunate to see and photograph some truly amazing things,” says Kalyn, an award-winning nature, wildlife and landscape photographer. He has been recognized by Canadian Geographic, National Geographic, the U.K. Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and the Audubon Photography Awards.

Shane is a proud member of The Canid Project, a non-profit that spreads awareness of the world’s canids to promote human-wildlife co-existence. “Photographing any species of wildlife, from sparrows to elephants, truly brings me joy. But I have a real soft spot for wild canids such as foxes and coyotes.  I would love to travel the world and photograph all of the amazing canid species out there”. 

Currently residing in Vancouver, BC but never content to sit still, Shane has also travelled to just shy of 50 countries, and his job as a fisheries technician takes him to some of the most remote and beautiful corners of his home province of British Columbia — but some of Shane’s favourite moments in photography often happen when he stumbles across urban wildlife close to home. “I am fascinated by urban wildlife and their ability to adapt and live alongside the human world, this coexistence is both essential and beautiful.  For me, it is the connection to the wildlife I photograph that I cherish the most. Feeling that connection to the natural world grounds me, and it is by far where I am most comfortable.”  Shane is also a proud member of the Canadian Conservation Photographers Collective, a group that promotes conservation and science education through the production of strong, thought-provoking visual content and he is also the founder of Canadian Conservation – a collective of Canadian nature photographers who use their art to raise funds to protect Canadian wildlife and conserve Canada’s wild spaces. www.4elementphotos.com

CANCELLATION POLICY & TRAVEL INSURANCE

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. In the event of emergency where Chris cannot personally attend, then a replacement guide will be the first option. If a cancellation does occur, participants may either use the fee towards a future workshop or receive a full refund. We are not responsible for travel expenses incurred and therefore strongly recommend getting travel insurance to cover such costs. Two companies that we recommend are Ripcord and Squaremouth.

A $500 admin fee will be charged for changes or cancellations, regardless of when that occurs. Participants who cancel prior to 90 days before the workshop will receive either a full refund or credit to a future workshop minus the change fee. Any cancellations within 90 days of the workshop cannot be refunded under any circumstances. Only if we are able to fill the vacancy, will the participant will receive a credit to a future workshop minus the change fee. Workshop credits are good for one calendar year from the date of the missed workshop.

Any cancellations within 30 days of the workshop (for any reason) will forfeit their entire registration fee as it is extremely difficult to fill the space on that short of notice. If a true emergency arises last minute we will do our best to work with you granting a partial credit towards a future workshop, but this is not guaranteed. Again travel insurance is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.